Thorndale’s Community Youth Clubhouse - organized by youth for youth
A warm late August evening marked the grand opening of Thorndale’s Community Youth Clubhouse. This interesting event was the fulfillment of several years of planning by a group of youth and advisors of this small, thriving village. How proud the young people appeared as speaker after speaker acknowledged the honor that it was to feature local teenagers who had spent an enormous amount of time not only attending planning meetings but also designing space and programs in a main street former school that is the site of this new endeavor.
Grant writing is an onerous task which the youth successfully embraced. For their efforts at proposal writing, budget submission, etc., the youth group was awarded $15,000 from the Royal Bank’s future launch program and in partnership with London Community Foundation assisted in funding the clubhouse space. The London Boys and Girls Club will provide oversight of the facility. In addition, Family Service Thames Valley has stepped forward to offer free mental health counselling. Representatives from these services offered glowing praise to the Thorndale youth who worked with great ardor to realize their dream of a youth centre. They encouraged the teens to continue developing skills and experiences that lead to success.
Along with the crowd of over 100 people, several booths were featured on the grounds announcing interesting club initiatives including the development of a community cookbook. Three boys at another booth were fundraising by selling a selection of dog toys, treats, etc. This is to help fund the vision of a young lad leading his project to establish a dog park in town.
Following the speeches and ribbon-cutting ceremony, music from an accomplished teenaged duo filled the air as the assembled crowd was welcomed to tour the clubhouse which features cozy rooms decked out with a donated pool table, hockey game, comfy couches, and quiet areas. A monthly calendar of events includes special events, recreation opportunities, and school tutoring.
Personally, it was a highlight of summer 2021 to visit beautiful Thorndale and see creative, skilled young people gathered with families and friends to bring their dreams to reality. Quiet pride shone on faces basking in the glow of what young people can achieve when encouraged by adults and supported by peers. Long live the little towns and villages that take pride in rural life and nurture families and children to become skilled leaders and solid citizens!
-Sister Jean Moylan, csj